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By Melissa Fleur Afshar
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A dog owner has shared three things that all lovers of golden retrievers need to keep in mind before welcoming one into their family.
The owner, whose golden retriever is called Charlie, charted the changes in their pet's temperament and broke them down into three stages—from "cute" to "mischievous" before eventually settling down.
The video, which his owner had shared to TikTok under @golden_boy_charlie on May 6, traced the different chapters in Charlie's life, as overlaid texts referenced the stages of growth that each golden retriever will allegedly go through.
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"[Oh my god] he's such a cute tiny potato," the text on the video read, as viewers were treated to the Chicago-based dog causing mischief as a puppy.
"At this point the naughty behavior is still cute and they get away with murder," the text read.
Then came the "oh no, what have we done phase." This part poked fun at the moment when first-time owners realize that disciplining their puppy may not actually be smooth sailing.
"At this point they still do all the puppy behavior but they are 10 times bigger so they are 10 times a greater wrecking ball," read the text, as footage showed a slightly older Charlie whizzing through his home and shaking a decorative cushion with all his might.
Finally, the "wish he was still a puppy phase" showed a sequence of clips of an older Charlie lying on the couch and apparently lacking in energy.
"He no longer constantly runs around the house and you start to miss the former chaos, you know you would do it all over again because it was all worth it," read the overlaid text.
Charlie's owner clarified in the post's caption that the dog, who was born in March 2023, is still very much in Stage 2.
Golden retrievers are known to be outgoing and spirited throughout their lives. The American Kennel Club (AKC) notes that the breed takes on a "joyous" approach to life and is able to maintain this attitude into adulthood. Like other retriever breeds, goldens also have a penchant for outdoor play, particularly in wet and rugged conditions.
Of the video's 3.9 million viewers, more than 1,200 have left comments, many of which detail similar experiences with golden retriever dogs.
"I do NOT miss the chaos," one user, who goes by Tori Madison on the platform, said. "Mine learned how to open the yard gate and would take himself on a run."
Another, @robinsloveoflife, added: "Mine just passed of cancer at nine. I miss the puppy stage."
A third user, @kimmelgroup, shared: "Still in phase two, hoping for three."
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Newsweek reached out to @golden_boy_charlie for more information via TikTok and email. Charlie's owner regularly shares insight into the pet's daily life on social media.
Do you have funny and adorable videos or pictures of your pet you want to share? Send them to life@newsweek.com with some details about your best friend and they could appear in our Pet of the Week lineup.
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